Students Take Mileage Challenge

Cindy Zimmerman

As gas prices in Minnesota top $3 a gallon, hundreds of Minnesota middle and high school students are preparing for the Minnesota Supermilage Challenge at the Brainerd International Raceway on May 13-15, an annual contest to see which team of students can build the most fuel efficient vehicles — and prove it on the track. In addition to gasoline-powered vehicles, some teams are building racers that use the cleaner-burning alternative fuel E85.

American Lung Association of the Upper MidwestThe students’ use of a less polluting fuel in the contest caught the attention of the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, a strong supporter of E85, biodiesel and other cleaner fuels and transportation technology.

“Minnesota is not only the clear leader in E85 sales and E85 outlets, our kids also know how to get the most out of this cleaner-burning, largely homegrown fuel,” said Bob Moffitt, communications director of the Clean Fuel and Vehicle Technologies program of the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest. “For example, last year’s E85 division defending champion (a joint Chippewa Middle School, Shoreview and Moundsview High School team) got an amazing 621 miles per gallon using E85.”

Biodiesel, E85, Ethanol, News

US BioEnergy Nebraska Plant Starts Production

Cindy Zimmerman

US BioenergyUS BioEnergy has announced that its Ord, Nebraska ethanol plant has begun production. The company broke ground on the 50 million gallon per year ethanol plant in December 2005 and completed construction ahead of the normal 20-month schedule.

US Bio Ord, located in central Nebraska and adjacent to the Nebraska Central Railroad, is expected to produce approximately 50 million gallons of ethanol and 275,000 tons of modified wet distillers grains per year from the 15 to 18 million bushels of corn provided by local farmers. The plant has created approximately 40 new jobs in the city of Ord.

Gordon Ommen, CEO of US BioEnergy, stated, “The opening of our fourth ethanol plant demonstrates the quality and effectiveness of the US BioEnergy team, which continues to execute our strategy ahead of schedule. We remain focused on building and acquiring ethanol plants in the Midwest. By doing so, we believe we will deliver on our goals of revitalizing Midwestern communities, promoting energy independence, and delivering value to our shareholders.”

Ethanol, Facilities, News

Thune to Hold Wind Summit

John Davis

Sen. John ThuneU.S. Senator John Thune (R-South Dakota) will hold a wind energy roundtable this coming Monday, May 14th at 1:00 PM (CDT) at the Sheraton Hotel in Sioux Falls.

From his press release:

“South Dakota could and should be a national leader in producing electricity harnessed through our abundant wind supply, but until now, our state has lacked the necessary infrastructure to fully develop this industry. I am looking forward to hearing the discussion about the future of wind energy production and related transmission issues,” said Thune.

As you might remember from my May 3rd post, Thune recently called for a federal tax credit to promote the growth of wind power across the nation.

More details of the conference:

WHEN: 1:00 PM CT, Monday, May 14, 2007
EVENT: Wind Energy Roundtable
WHERE: Fontenelle Room, Sheraton Hotel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
PANELISTS: Brad Barton, Director of Commercialization, U.S. Department of Energy;
Brian Parsons, Wind Applications Project Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory;
Laura McCarten, Co-Executive Director CapX Transmission Initiative, Xcel Energy;
Beth Soholt, Director, Wind on the Wires;
Lloyd Linke, Watertown Operations Manager,
Western Area Power Administration (Western)

Government, Wind

UDOT Growing Own Biodiesel

John Davis

UDOTDrivers along a stretch of Interstate 15 in Utah might be used to seeing biodiesel-powered vehicles, but the same stretch of road is becoming home to the raw materials used to make biodiesel.

According to a story in the Salt Lake Tribune, the Utah Department of Transportation has partnered with Utah State University to plant safflower, camelina, canola and perennial flax in a safety strip along the interstate. The seeds are then crushed to make biodiesel:

The unusual idea came from Dallas Hanks, a 44-year-old biologist who is working on his doctoral degree at USU. With an initial $50,000 boost from UDOT, Hanks aims to prove the 2,500 miles of state-owned highway right-of-way could yield an annual average of 500,000 gallons of 100 percent biodiesel.

By addressing efficiency, energy development and climate-change concerns, the project “has it all,” said Laura Nelson, (Utah Governor Jon) Huntsman’s energy policy adviser. “A lot of agencies are pursuing the conservation initiative,” she said. “This is probably the most innovative [approach].”

Officials expect the biodiesel will power the UDOT trucks and heavy equipment.

Biodiesel, Government

Big Biodiesel Producer Adds Red Dye to Mix

John Davis

Gulf HydrocarbonHouston-based Gulf Hydrocarbon, Inc, the top provider of biodiesel for the petroleum industry, is adding red dye to some of its biodiesel at its terminal in Houston. So why the red dye?

The dye red biodiesel is used off-road by construction companies, ranchers, farmers, and standby generators, marine and drilling industries because of its non-taxable incentive provided by the US government.

Scott Hughes, Director of Governmental Affairs for the National Biodiesel Board says, “Dye red presents a wonderful non-taxable option for farmers, ranchers, off-road equipment haulers to better manage their logistics costs. The tax incentives will continue to help develop the biodiesel industry and preserve our natural resources. Gulf Hydrocarbon is truly a pioneer in the industry by providing this product at the pump in their terminals.”

The product is being offered in Louisiana and Texas.

Biodiesel

Wind Powering Illinois Renewable Energy Standard

John Davis

Lawmakers in the Illinois State House have passed what’s considered a pretty ambitious renewable energy standard calling for the state to buy up to 25% of its renewable energy sources by 2025. According to a press release posted on the Environmental Law and Policy Center web site, wind power is seen as the main source for clean power:

Howard Learner“Developing wind power, a ‘no-CO2’ energy source, can help to solve our global warming problems,” said Howard A. Learner, Executive Director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. “Renewable energy is a win-win-win—it’s good for farmers, good for rural economic development and good for the environment.

Experts say Illinois has enough wind power capacity to be a leader in the U.S. Plus, since the state is a hub for power transmission lines, so there is a cheap, efficient to get the power onto the grid.

About 5,500 megawatts of wind power are under development in Illinois. That would be enough to power 1.7 million homes.

Government, Legislation, Wind

NBB Wants Biodiesel Incentives in Farm Bill

John Davis

NBB logoThe National Biodiesel Board today called on Congress to put pro-biodiesel provisions in the new Farm Bill, including a Biodiesel Incentive Program and Biodiesel Fuel Education Program. According to an NBB release, making the case for the board and the American Soybean Association in front of the Senate Agriculture Committee was Neil Rich, president and CEO of Riksch BioFuels of Crawfordsville, Iowa:

Neil Rich“The construction of our biodiesel facility is the direct result of the successful programs from the 2002 Farm Bill,” said Rich of the plant that created 14 high-quality jobs in Southeastern Iowa to allow it to produce 10 million gallons of cleaner burning biodiesel annually. “Biodiesel should be a significant part of the 2007 Farm Bill.”

The program would be similar to the Commodity Credit Corporation Bioenergy Program… already working well in expanding biodiesel the industry the last few years. The federal Ag Department would use commodities to reimburse biodiesel producers.

NBB officials say the energy portion of the 2002 Farm Bill has encouraged greatly expanded biodiesel production. USDA analysis says that every 50 million gallons of biodiesel raises soybean prices one percent. In the long-term, experts say the increased demand for biodiesel will increase average soybean prices nearly 10 percent by 2015. They also point out that extra money in farmers’ pockets will mean that much less in farm program payments.

Biodiesel, Government, Legislation

Arctic Mission Continues

Cindy Zimmerman

Steger TeamWill Steger is now half way through the Global Warming 101 Expedition across the Arctic. As Steger and his team continue their journey, they are seeing drastic changes in the landscape.

Recently, the team passed through the Pangnirtung Pass. This area has often been known as “the land where ice never melts,” but over the last 40 years the overhanging glaciers have been disappearing or becoming significantly smaller due to melting.

The area of Pangnirtung also relies on the sea ice for its livelihood, because the ice allows the people to hunt for seals and fish. Nearly 80 percent of their food comes from hunting and fishing. Due to the thinner and breaking sea ice, the people of Pangnirtung have had to change their lifestyle. This has greatly disrupted the culture that has been carried down through generations.

Steger notes that the ethanol industry, through the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, is an important sponsor of the expedition. “It is important to focus on the solutions that are currently available, and EPIC is helping with that solution by spreading the word about ethanol,” said Steger. “It’s essential to lower our carbon emissions to help save areas like Pangnirtung.”

EPIC, Ethanol, global warming, News

Indy Success Amazes EPIC

Cindy Zimmerman

KittrellThe 91st Indy 500 later this month will mark a huge milestone in the history of racing – the first Indy 500 to run on 100 percent fuel grade ethanol.

The effort to get ethanol on the track has largely been driven by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC), which was really only started just over two years ago by ethanol industry companies Fagen, ICM, and Broin – the company now known as POET. The Indy Racing League connection was one of EPIC’s first ventures to show the performance value of ethanol and increase its visibility nationwide.

EPIC board member Walter Kittrell of Fagen says even they are amazed by the success of the program. “I don’t think anybody ever thought it would get this far with the 100 percent, that’s something we never expected,” he said in a recent interview at the Kansas Lottery Indy 300. “It’s a gift that we got that we very much appreciate.”

EPIC members now represent more than 2.45 billion gallons of ethanol, as well as a variety of industry partners and associations. “We think everybody that understands ethanol and that’s involved in it needs to come on board and help promote and sponsor this,” Kittrell said.

Listen to Chuck Zimmerman’s interview with Walter here: Listen to MP3 Walter Kittrell Interview (4 min MP3)

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News

CBOT to Celebrate Green Racing

Cindy Zimmerman

CBOTThe Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) will host Team Ethanol Driver Jeff Simmons and his 100 percent fuel-grade ethanol car in a tribute to the “Greening of Racing” and and a salute to the IndyCar® Series on Monday May 14 in Chicago.

Simmons will open the event by driving up in an IndyCar vehicle on CBOT Plaza. Other dignitaries will include USDA Undersecretary for Rural Development Tom Dorr, and representatives from the CBOT, the Indy Racing League, and the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

EPIC, Ethanol, Indy Racing, News